With the official release of its first compilation album, Small Town Records has hit it big at Duke. But to the man behind the music, Duke's first student-run label has been building toward success for more than two years.
Colin Tierney, the co-founder of Small Town Records, officially introduced the label's album at its CD release party at Alivia's Durham Bistro March 27.
"It's always been here," Tierney says. "But, really, that was where we wanted to make this splash and let everyone know about it and know we're here."
High school chums Tierney and co-founder Dan Corkum, now juniors, arrived at Duke with a desire to pursue their interest in the music industry, but they weren't sure how to do it. After consulting several Duke alumni and faculty, though, Small Town Records was born.
The record label provides local musicians with an open recording studio, as well as an outlet for publicity and production.
"There were plenty of people here who were making music, but had nowhere to record it," Tierney says. "Now, we have that place."
Since its creation in the fall of 2005, the organization has expanded rapidly. Small Town Records joined forces with the Duke University Union to receive official funding in the spring of 2006. The label is now run by a board of student directors and has produced for more than 15 local groups in the studio.
"I can't do this by myself now-the organization is too big," Tierney says. "If you cut out everyone else who works with me, I could only do 10 percent of what we do now."
Tricked out with thousands of dollars of professional recording equipment, Small Town Records' recording studio is a mecca for the continuous stream of musicians filtering in and out around the clock.
For Tierney, the studio is a place on campus that he hopes will become a University fixture. And even with his responsibilities coordinating the Small Town Records agenda, he still sits down with his guitar and compose music of his own when he makes the time-or tries to, at least.
"I never really thought about what it would feel like to sit down in a studio that I helped create," Tierney says with a smile. "I probably don't sit back and enjoy it enough."
-LAUREN KOBYLARZ
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.